Gas-engine starter.



S. S. KRAYER.

GAS ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.28, 1913.

1 138365, Patented May11,1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.1 rn-IOTO-LITHQ, WASHINGTON. B1 C1 S. S. KRAYER.

GAS ENGINE STARTER.

APFLICATKON FILED APR.28| I913- 1 1 755, Patented May 11, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

sf W 77777 i147: p68

S. S. KRAYER.

GAS ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FIL'ED APR.2B, 1913.

Patented May 11, 1915.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

@ 556?? l I I 4 WWW W THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHOTOLITHCL, WASHINGTON, D. c.

STEPHEN S. KRAYER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

GAS-ENGINE STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1915.

Application filed April 28, 1913. Serial No. 764,279.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN S. KRAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Gas-Engine Starter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gas engine starters, and more particularly to a type of starter arranged to inject a predetermined quantity of gas under pressure into the respective cylinders of the engine, which gas may then be exploded by the usual means effectively to initially start the throw of the crank shaft.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel form of mixing valve, whereby a predetermined quantity of the fuel liquid may be mixed with air or fluid under pressure and injected directly into the respective cylinder through a passage arranged separate from the usual supply passage.

.Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of valve for controlling the passage of the air under pressure to the mixing valves.

A general object of the invention is to produce an efficient system of valves and passages whereby the full liquid may be carbureted and injected into the respective cylinders of the engine in selected order under suflicient compression to cause an explosion of suflicient power to drive the piston, to initially start the operation of the engine.

With these and other obvious novel and useful features of construction in view, I have designed, combined and arranged the several cooperating parts and elements in the manner hereinafter disclosed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a plan view showing the general assembly of my improvement embodied in and applied to a motor vehicle engine. Fig. 2 is an elevation of'a battery of four mixing valve units. Fig. 3 is a section through the mixing valve showing clearly the details ofconstruction. Fig. 4 is a section through the air valve disclosing the arrangement of the several parts andmeans by which they are controlled, and Fig. 5 1s a cross section taken through the air valve substantially on the line 55 of Fig. A.

In the embodiment of the invention illus the valve case 1 of the air valve. The valve case 1 is preferably supported by the dashboard E of the vehicle so that the handle for manipulating the valve may be readily accessible from the driving seat as a matter of convenience.

In the valve case 1, is mounted a conical valve plug 2, provided with a cylindrical extension adapted to receive thereon an operating handle 4L whereby it may be manipulated. The valve plug 2, is provided with a longitudinal bore through the axis thereof, and is arranged to receive at one end a reducing sleeve 5 the inner end of which constitutes a valve seat for the needle valve plug 6, which is arranged to be moved onto and from its seat by rotation of its stem, which carries a worm sleeve '7 arranged to cooperate with threads formed in the side of the bore in the valve plug 2. A hand wheel 8 is provided for rotating the stem of the valve 6.

In order to hold the valve plug 2 to its seat and to prevent leakage, I provide a strong spring 9, which bears against a face of the valve plug 2, and is nested in an enlarged portion of the case 1, and held from displacement'by the cap 10. The cap 10 encircles the extension 3, constituting the stem of the valve plug 2, and is large enough to constitute a stufing box to receive packing for said stem, which is held in place by the gland nut 11. In the end of the extension 3 is another stufling box for packing the stem of the valve 6, which stuffing box is closed by the gland nut 12.

' Through the side wall of the valve case 1, are a series of outlet passages 13 which C0111- municate with the respective mixing valves.

In the valveplug 2 is a passage 14 which communicates with the passage 15 in the reducing nut 5, which in turn is open to the air supply pipe d leading from the tank D. In order to supply the air under pressure to the respective passages 13, and thence to supply the respective mixing valves with air under pressure, the needle valve 6 is first moved from its seat, which opens the passage 1 1-15, and the valve plug 2 is then turned so that the passage 14: will be brought in turn into communication with each of the outlet passages 13, respectively. The valve plug 2 is also provided with a number of release passages 16, which communicate with the pipes 13 at one end, and at the other with outlet passages through the valve case 1. In Figs. 4 and 5, the passage 14: is shown in communication with one of the air supply passages 13, and it is clear from the arrangement of the passages that when the valve is moved to close the passage 11, that the passages 13 will communicate with the exhaust passages 16, and the air pressure in the passages 13, will be thereby released. A guide plate or dial may be provided in connection with the operating handle 4. to indi-- cate the position of the valve plug 2.

The air under pressure is conducted through the passages 13 to the respective mixing valves. It will be understood that one mixing valve is provided for each cylinder of the engine, and it will be sufficient, therefore, to describe one unit.

The passage 13 opens into the chamber 18 formed in the case 19 of the mixing valve. In the chamber 18 is mounted a diaphragm 20, upon which is mounted a needle valve 21, which controls the passage 22 leading to liquid chamber 23. The valve 21 is actuated from its seat by the spring 24 so that when there is no pressure on the diaphragm 20 in the chamber 18 the passage 22 remains open, and the fuel liquid which enters through the pipe 25 will fill the chamber 23. The pipe 25 is connected into and constitutes one branch from the fuel supply pipe 26 supplied from any suitable source, and in which may be placed the carbureter F.

From the pipe 13 is a by-pass passage 27 opening into the chamber 28, wherein is mounted a diaphragm 29 which supports and actuates a needle valve 30 which controls the air inlet port 31. The diaphragm is actuated to close the port 31,by the spring 32 until air under sufficient pressure enters the chamber 28 to overcome the action of the spring 32.

It will be understood that as the air pressure enters the chambers 18 and 28 the passage 22 is closed and the passage 31 is opened, the air passing into the chamber 23 forcing the liquid therefrom into the cylinder supply passage 33, and thence conducting the gas under compression into the cylinders. In order to prevent back pressure in the passage 33 I provide a check valve 34. IVhen the pressure in the passage 1.3 is released the passage 22 will again open and the passage 31 close and the chamber 23 will refill.

From the foregoing description the principle and nature of the invention and its mode of operation will be readily comprehended.

I am aware that numerous mechanical changes in the structure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I do not limit myself, therefore, to details, but

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a starting device for gas engines,

the combination with a fuel liquid supply chamber, and a supply passage therefor, of an air supply passage leading to said chamber, a double diaphragm valve in said supply passage controlled by air pressure operable efiectively to close the fuel liquid supply passage and to permit the air pressure to enter said fuel liquid, and an outlet passage from said fuel liquid chamber to phei engine cylinder, substantially as speciie 2. In a starting device for gas engines, the combination with a fuel supply chamber, a supply passage opening into said chamber, a valve for said passage, means normally holding said valve open, a passage for admitting air into said chamber, a valve controlling said air passage, means normally holding said second named valve closed, and means for supplying air to said air passage, of means actuated by the pressure of the air so supplied for closing the valve in said supply passage and opening the valve in said air passage, substantially as specified.

3. In a starting device for gas engines, the combination with a fuel supply chamber, a passage for admitting fuel to said chamber, and a passage for admitting air to said chamber, of valves controlling said passages, respectively, means for supplying air under pressure to said air passage, and means actuated by the air so supplied to effectively open one of said valves and to close the other, substantially as specified.

4:. In a starting device for gas engines, the combination with a liquid supply chamber, and a supply passage therefor, of an air passage opening into said chamber, a valve normally closing said air passage, means for conducting air under pressure to said air passage, and means actuated by the air for opening said valve and for closing Eaiil supply passage, substantially as speci- 5. In a starting device for gas engines, the combination with a liquid supply chamber, separate valves controlling the admission of fuel and of air to said chamber, means for conducting air under pressure toward said chamber and means actuated by the passage of the air efifectively to open one of said valves and to close the other, substantially as specified.

6. In a starting device for gas engines,

the combination with a fuel supply chamber, a supply passage therefor, a diaphragm valve in said supply passage, a spring normally holding said valve open, and means for admitting air under pressure against said valve effectively to close said valve, of an air passage opening into said chamber, a diaphragm valve controlling said air passage, a spring normally holding said lastnamed valve closed, and for admitting air under pressure against said valve effectively to open said valve whereby the air is admititied1 into sald chamber, substantially as specie In witness whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN S. KRAYER.

Witnesses:

J. D. RIPPEY, R. M. LAWRENCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

